Степанян Դավիթ Stepanyan Ստեփանյան David Давид

Anna Shelest: Ukraine relies, first of all, on its own resources

Do you think the results of
the recent local elections in Ukraine will change the political landscape,
particularly, the prospects of power retention by Petro Poroshenko Bloc?

The results of the local elections will
not lead to any serious changes in Ukraine. First and foremost, the local
elections proved that no Ukrainian party has a monopoly on power. Second, the
elections showed that not everyone is pleased with the level of reforms. Third,
many voted just for the familiar names, not for new ones, because the elections
were held in line with the new laws and not everyone is familiar with them. In
addition, some people perceived the actual split of the former Party of Regions
into several new parties as emergence of new forces. As for Petro Poroshenko
Bloc, it has never had a full power in the country. Since 2014, there is a
coalition in Ukraine. Hence, it is not so correct to speak of 'power retention.

At the same time, I should say that Ukraine understands the stands of
Yerevan and Baku on the conflict in our country. Certainly, we would like
Yerevan to openly condemn the annexation of Crimea as a violation of all basic
standards of international law. However, we perfectly realize the external
pressure, the conflicts in the Caucasus, and the close economic ties that are
important to the country. Therefore, I think, Ukraine needs to work with
Yerevan and Baku more actively so that they could have a full and clear picture
of the ongoing developments and the prospects of strengthening relations with
Ukraine.

According
to the Ukrainian and Russian media reports, Polish President Andrzej Duda has
called on the Poles “to be ready to fight for retrieving Polesie, Galicia and
Volhynia.” Isn’t Kiev concerned over such statements given that Ukraine is
striving to join the EU and that two more members of the EU – Hungary and
Romania – can also make such claims?

I thinkyou might have noticed that
not a single serious Ukrainian media outlet has published such “news”.
Unfortunately, the propaganda, information war, fakes and rumors have become an
important weapon in this conflict. Over the past 2 years we have regularly come
across photos from Bosnia made in 1995, which illustrate the Donbass
developments of 2014, photos adjusted by means of Photoshop, as well as phrases
torn from the context or misinterpreted speeches of the world leaders. This is
part of shaping of public opinion. Long before the outbreak of the crisis, the
Russian media outlets often disseminated information about alleged threat from
Romania, Poland and Hungary to revise the Ukrainian borders. This information
caused only sneers in those countries, because they are interested in
territorial integrity and stability of Ukraine. Today such statements are just
a failed attempt to convince the public that Ukraine will all the same undergo
disintegration, that Western countries also want to get some pieces of Ukraine
and that Russia’s annexation of Ukraine is not unique.

The
participation of the Russian Aerospace Forces in liquidation of the ISIS
terrorists in Syria has drawn the international community’s attention away from
the Ukrainian problem to some extent. What consequences may it have for the
conflict and the general situation in Ukraine?

Russia's operation in Syria and its policy
towards Ukraine is to some extent part of the same mosaic. Russia has always
striven to be at the negotiating table around the key issues and problems in
the world. Actually, this showed its
status - the one the USSR was used to. Until recently, it was the Iranian
nuclear program. Russia participated in the negotiations around it amid Ukraine
crisis. However, Iran's problem has been resolved and Russia - because of
Ukraine - has found itself outside the formats where it can highlight its
importance. Moscow interfered with the Syrian conflict for several reasons. The
first one was to prove the big powers that they need Russia at the negotiating table
despite its isolation and the sanctions over Ukraine. Perhaps, it pursued a
goal to distract its actions in Ukraine.
However, the Western countries are so far studying these two options
simultaneously. No one is going to rescind the sanctions or reduce criticism
against Moscow due to its involvement in the talks around Syria.

Speaker of the Russian Federation Council Valentina Matvienko has
recently expressed confidence that Russia and Ukraine "are doomed" to
the closest cooperation in the historical outlook. Doyoualsothinkso?

The phrases "are doomed" and
"brotherly nations" recently uttered by Russian politicians resemble
a "mantra" and "self-persuasion" like in the movie
"The most charming and attractive". Such remarks in Ukraine cause sad
smiles. One cannot come to one's neighbor, ruin his orchard, beat his relatives
and then say - let's make friends. Over
the past 300 years, Russia has failed to understand that Ukrainians are very
patient but one should not outwear that patience. In the best case scenario the
two states will normalize their relations to some extent, because it is
impossible to change the geography. Many will keep speaking Russian and reading
the classical Russian literature because it is a part of history and culture.
But the understanding that we are different is getting stronger and stronger.
These are basic things. For Ukraine freedom and dignity are above all, while
Russia gives high priority to stability and strength and Russians are ready to
sacrifice even their freedom.

Though
U.S. President Obama has vetoed the draft defense budget of 2016, which envisages $300
million aid to Ukraine's army, Kiev hopes that the U.S. military and other aid
to Ukraine will be continued through a so-called “continuing resolution”, which
will put off the financial expenses of the budget 2015 till 2016. How would you
assess the efficiency of the U.S. aid to the Ukrainian army in the light of the
protracted conflict in the southeast of the country?

The defense budget is just part of the aid
Ukraine receives from the United States and other partner-countries. This
figure is rather the direct aid in terms of various types of weaponry.
Simultaneously, the U.S. provides a significant aid to Ukraine for army reform,
training of soldiers and officers, as well as supplies of medical and related
equipment. It is not easy to assess the U.S. aid to Ukraine separately from the
aid rendered by other countries, as it has a synergistic effect. Ukraine relies
on its own resources, first of all.